Your friendly neighbourhood Ethio-Spider-Man!

Dressed in a Spider-Man costume, an unnamed man engages in small acts of kindness to the people around him: mending old clothes, dusting the shoes of passers-by, and serenading onlookers.

The creators of Captain Mfombi, a fictional Zimbabwean superhero, said that their idea of a hero is one who saves the world “one menial task at a time”. On the streets of Addis Ababa, that vision is being realised. Dressed in a Spider-Man costume, a man – as yet unnamed – engages in small acts of kindness to the people around him: mending old clothes, dusting the shoes of passers-by, and serenading onlookers. He has become an internet sensation, and is inspiring other residents of Ethiopia’s capital to engage in community service. AFP photojournalist Amanuel Sileshi was there to witness the community crusader in action.

Horse and buggy: A man dressed in a Spider-Man costume patrols the streets of Addis Ababa in his horse cart earlier this month, on the lookout for good deeds in need of doing. Ethio-Spider-Man has become an internet sensation in Ethiopia, with viral TikTok videos inspiring people in Addis Ababa and beyond to engage in community service and offer a helping hand.